Internet Explorer is no longer supported by Microsoft. To browse the NIHR site please use a modern, secure browser like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge.

Clinician Researcher development programmes competition

Contents

Published: 28 September 2021

Version: 1.1 September 2021

Print this document

Master of Research programmes competition

The NIHR, in partnership with the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC), are inviting Higher Education Institutions to apply for funding in the second round of the competition to develop new Clinician Researcher development programmes. This will form part of the new NIHR-AoMRC Clinician Researcher Credentials Framework, which provides a range of practical, Master’s level clinician researcher development programmes aimed at experienced clinicians who are new or relatively new to research.

Following the selection of the University of Exeter and Newcastle University to develop and deliver Postgraduate Certificates, we are now inviting Higher Education Institutions to apply for funding to develop Master of Research extension pathways.

The Postgraduate Certificates, due to launch in September 2022, will provide a general overview of clinical research delivery and are aimed at experienced healthcare practitioners from any regulated profession who are new or relatively new to clinical research.

Up to three Higher Education Institutions are now being sought to develop and deliver contrasting Master of Research programmes, including a Postgraduate Diploma exit award option. The courses should provide learners with the necessary knowledge, skills and confidence to develop towards leading local clinical research.

Research practice experience will form a core component to the Framework, providing learners with an opportunity for experiential learning, mentoring and sharing of local innovative best-practice within the supportive environment of a clinical research network.

The Framework has been commissioned and funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). The DHSC will provide bursary funding to support learner participation in programmes aligned with the NIHR-AoMRC Clinician Researcher Credentials Framework.

This work is managed jointly by the NIHR and the Royal College of Physicians (which is the lead member of the AoMRC for this programme).

Professor Nick Lemoine, the NIHR Medical Director said, “The introduction of these credentials will increase the capacity for research across the workforce and enable the NHS to deliver high-quality clinical research in everyday clinical settings. We are now seeking Higher Education Institutions to develop and deliver complementary extension Master of Research pathways, each offering different specialisations to maximise the number of potential learners who will benefit from these programmes.”

Professor Ramesh Arasaradnam, academic vice president of the Royal College of Physicians, said, “The value of clinical research has been clearly demonstrated during the pandemic and more and more clinicians are keen to get involved, but many feel they lack the necessary skills. This qualification, and the wider researcher credentials framework, is key to bridging that gap. Ultimately this will mean more clinicians are able to contribute positively to research, which brings benefits to patients in ordinary as well as extraordinary times, through better services and outcomes.”

A webinar to provide potential applicants with further information about the competition will be held at 11.00hrs to 12.00hrs on 12 October 2021. The webinar will be hosted on Zoom and will offer an additional opportunity to ask questions.

Competition closes on the 19th November 2021. Further information about the webinar and the competition can be found on the Competition website.

PGCert Competition Outcome

The NIHR and the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges are delighted to announce that the University of Exeter and Newcastle University have been successful in their applications to secure funding from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to develop Postgraduate Certificates aligned with the NIHR-AoMRC Clinician Researcher Credentials Framework.

The Framework will help healthcare practitioners from any regulated profession (including medicine, nursing, midwifery, pharmacists, allied health professions, healthcare scientists and others) develop the skills required to work in clinical research delivery.

A substantial part of the Postgraduate Certificates will involve research practice experience, providing an opportunity for experiential learning, mentoring and sharing of local innovative best-practice within the supportive environment of a clinical research network. This will equip learners with the necessary networks, skills and confidence to support, and develop towards leading, safe, high quality clinical research in areas where there is the greatest disease burden.

The University of Exeter and Newcastle University will also provide flexible access to high quality interactive online learning. This will emphasise the key knowledge, skills and behaviours which demonstrate capability as a Clinician Researcher when delivering aspects of networked research within their scope of practice.

The postgraduate Certificates are designed for learners with busy work schedules who will be studying part time. The courses will be available from September 2022 at the latest, with student enrolment taking place in July 2022 or earlier.

Anthea Mould, Executive Sponsor of the Programme at the NIHR said, “We are extremely pleased that the University of Exeter and Newcastle University will be developing the Postgraduate Certificate. Both their applications demonstrated particular strengths in developing learning that is inclusive of all clinical professions and being able to offer excellent learning provision, based on a proven track record. These awards are critical to the further development of the NIHR Clinician Researcher Programme which endeavors to make health research more inclusive”

Professor Ramesh Arasaradnam, Academic Vice President of the Royal College of Physicians said, “It’s essential that we encourage more doctors and other healthcare professionals to get involved in clinical research, which brings benefits for them, their patients and the places where they work. The Postgraduate Certificates now being developed by these successful universities will break down barriers and encourage more participation now and in the future.”

DHSC will continue to support the NIHR-AoMRC Clinician Researcher Credentials Framework by providing bursary funding to support learner participation in programmes aligned with the Framework.

A further competition for Higher Education Institutions to apply for funding to develop Master of Research extension pathways aligned with the Framework will launch in September 2021.

If you would like to register for future updates about the NIHR-AoMRC Clinician Researcher Credentials Framework, please complete this form.